December 31, 2016

Bishop Rozanski offers New Year’s greetings

REGIONAL
Staff report

Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski (IObserve file photo/Fred LeBlanc)

SPRINGFIELD — New Year’s greetings from Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski are heading out into cyberspace as electronic evangelization reaches more and more people in the Diocese of Springfield and beyond.

With a click of a button, one can hear Bishop Rozanski wish everyone a happy 2017 and offer words of hope and inspiration. 

His New Year’s greeting, along with his Christmas greeting, were filmed in the parlor of the bishop’s residence on Elliot Street with the production help of Catholic Communications. 

“As we celebrate the new year, we greet it with a freshness of new hope for our lives,” said Bishop Rozanski in the message.

He also said, “I wish the blessings of 2017, knowing that we walk in the grace of God, who gives us true hope in our hearts.”

Mark Dupont, director of Catholic Communications for the diocese, said the internet greetings were a natural step as more and more communications are online.

“This is a way Bishop Rozanski can be present to more people here in western Massachusetts and, as an added bonus, stay in touch with his former flock in Maryland- people who really enjoyed his Christmas message,” Dupont told IObserve.

He noted that Bishop Rozanski’s Christmas greeting (click here to see) was very popular on his Facebook page and on the Catholic Communications page. It was viewed by more than 33,000, shared almost 60 times and received more than 40 comments.

Catholic Communications and Bishop Rozanski have taken seriously the responsibility of using social media to spread the Good News. 

Pope Francis also affirmed that in his greeting on World Day of Social Communication in January 2016. “Emails, text messages, social networks and chats can be fully human forms of communication,” the pope said.

“It is not technology which determines whether or not communication is authentic, but rather the human heart and our capacity to use wisely the means at our disposal,” Pope Francis said.

He added: “Communication, wherever and however it takes place, has opened up broader horizons for many people. This is a gift of God which involves a great responsibility. I like to refer to this power of communication as ‘closeness.’”

You can view Bishop’s message at https://www.facebook.com/BishopMitch/.